I, too, have had the Essure procedure done and have experienced problems from it. My procedure was performed after I delivered my son by C-section in February 2010. I was 42, he was my 4th child (and what a surprise he was). My husband and I decided that because of our age we didn’t want have any more surprises. We both talked to my OBGYN about the options available. She advised us that Essure was our best option with minimal risks during the procedure and after.
For months after having the procedure, I experienced sharp abdominal pain…like lightening was shooting through my belly. The pain would catch me so off guard, it would take my breath away and have me doubled over from its shock. At my six week check up, I was examined and was told that I had what looked like a bruise on my cervix but was told everything was fine. I then returned back to my doctor because of chronic vaginal infections and excessive discharge. Culture tests confirmed chronic bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. I specifically asked my doctor why I kept having them. I was told that some women are just more prone to having them and douching would help. Scratching my head on that one! Seriously???
Close to one year after having my son, I expressed the previous issues and that I was experiencing extreme loss of libido, painful intercourse, inability to orgasm, chronic fatigue, hot flashes, night sweats, severe hair loss, itchy – dry skin, painful ovulation, insomnia, and constant and unusual irritability. I was told most of the symptoms were because of my age and to take into consideration that I just had a baby. In other words, what I was experiencing at my age of childbearing was to be expected. This is where my journey to find a doctor who would hear me began.
Because I didn’t have any concrete answers from my previous OBGYN, I researched my symptoms and came up with a self diagnosis for peri-menopause. I knew I didn’t want any treatment that would compromise my personal stance regarding a plant-based approach to HRT. I found an gynecologist that would not only hear me but would adhear to my preferred plan of treatment. He tested tested my hormonal levels and could understand why I felt so horrible. He said that my levels were as if I were 80 years old. Nothing was within any normal or even low level range. My levels were almost non-existent regarding estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and adrenals. He then put me on bio-identical hormones and herbal supplements to increase my levels. I felt better but still didn’t feel like myself. Also, I still continued to have problems with hair loss, and discovered a few more problems that just may have taken a back seat to all the other problems I was having. I currently have unbearable cramping during my cycles, tender breast, some pelvic pain as described above, heavy discharge, all over body pain (especially in my joints), swelling in my legs, hands and feet, tingling in my hands and feet, arthritic symptoms in my hands, unexplained bloating, migraines prior to and during my cycle, occassional ringing in my ears, heart palputations, insomnia, weight gain (or weight that I can’t seem to loose no matter what I do), along with the other symptoms I’ve mentioned.
My husband urged me to research the Essure controversy a few weeks ago. I am telling my story because I now know that what I have been experiencing is not because of my age! It is because of Essure!